Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Earth Day=Everyday! Beauty/Skincare= Origins + Body Shop

NYCEarth Day gets celebrated once a year but as a way of life---try 24/7/365! Why slab on untested ingredients in beauty/skincare products when effective, vetted, and well priced alternatives are easily available without all the questionable stuff?It has been awhile since we've reviewed Origins skincare/cosmetics...and a recent reach out brought us up to date with this Esteé Lauder owned company.Impressively, we think this brand---that is widely available---including its own stand-alone locales...has gotten more eco in its formulations and DNA. With the phrase '...powered by nature, proven by science'---Origins' goodies are paraben free and ALSO formulated without Phthalates, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oil, PABA, Petrolatum, Paraffin, DEA and Animal Ingredients (except cruelty-free honey and beeswax).IMPRESSIVE!

PLUS natural and certified organic ingredients are in the mix, and 100% essential oils are used---as well as eco practices put in place for manufacturing...including packaging made from post consumer plastics and recyclable.

Clear
Improvement®
Active charcoal mask
to clear pores
75ml
$19.00 USD/
$23.00 CDN a dark blue clear gel-we used after a trip to the sauna, applied a thin layer to our face (about a quarter sized) and let it dry (China Clay-without irritation) for a few minutes. Activated charcoal cleans without the burn of other masks so good for all skin types

Which is all well and good---really---but all well and fabulous---the limited edition products tried...two masks, and scrub and a facial wash.

Drink UpTM
Intensive
Overnight mask
to quench skin’s thirst
75ml
$19.00 USD/
$23.00 CDN Applications suggest to apply -we used about a nickel's size, and tissue off before going to bed ...though we did that before a swim in the pool and our facial skin came out of the practice without our usual peeling spots. Clean scent too...made with moisturizing avocado and apricot kernel oils and reparative Japanese seaweed---

BONUS POINTS: A Plant-A-Tree Campaign in partnership with American Forests' Global ReLeaf™an education and action program that helps individuals, agencies
and corporations improve the local and global environment by planting and caring for trees,

Modern FrictionTM
Collection
Nature’s gentle
dermabrasion
75ml
$27.00 USD/
$32.50 CDNWith the texture of thinnish oatmeal--though its made with rice kernels-acclaimed for their polishing powers---use one tiny squeeze of the tube and mix in a little water...perfect texture to get off the grime cleanser after a day out about town in the summer heat. Plus scent is terrific---they could make a cologne out of it..

The Scoop: Origins will plant a tree for
each limited edition product purchased from April 21-28, 2013. By planting trees around the world, Origins helps
restore areas damaged by wildfire, where critical wildlife habitat has been lost, and helps clean our air and water.

Since
the launch of the Plant-A-Tree Campaign, Origins has aided reforestation projects globally by helping to plant more than
265,000 trees around the world.INFO:http://www.origins.comThe Body Shop---also owned by a cosmetic giant (L'Oreal) has also been able to stick to its knitting with a slew of skincare and bodycare products that are all cruelty free-never tested on animals---and makes a point of sourcing ingredients from indigenous communities/developing countries---and paying fairly for them.Makeup tools often are made from animal hairs...but the Body Shop offers 13 brushes including the Foundation Brush, Kabuki Bronzing Brush ...

...and Slanted Brush, as well as a Mini Brush Kit that contains 4 travel-friendly-size brushes: Blusher Brush, Eyeshadow Brush, Slanted Brush and Lipstick/Concealer Brush-----that are all vegetarian, 100% cruelty free and use artificial hair instead of goat, pony, badger, weasel or squirrel hairs (yikes) - with the brush handles on allThe BodyShop Brushes made from Forest Stewardship Council wood---making the brushes easy to hold and use for controlled, precise application.

FYI: Synthetic brushes are more durable ---and are easier to clean.Currently on sale at: $8.25-$18.00